Faiz Subri bags RM200,000 as reward for Puskas Award win

BY        ZULHILMI ZAINAL       Follow on Twitter

The 2016 Puskas Award winner Faiz Subri can expect a hefty windfall for his recent capture of the award.

In an event at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) held to welcome him home from the award ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, the Malaysian FA (FAM) and Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the two organisations will award the Pulau Pinang player RM200,000 in total for his achievement.

When inquired in a press conference held at KLIA right after Faiz' arrival, Khairy said; "On behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, I have presented an RM100,000 cheque (to Faiz)."

FAM deputy president Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah then immediately chimed in; "The FAM executive committee has held a discussion, and as acknowledgement (for Faiz' win), we've agreed to reward him with RM50,000."

Left to right: Afandi, Faiz, Khairy and Pulau Pinang FA vice president Azizudin Shariff. Photo by Zulhilmi Zainal

Faiz was also presented with a Malaysia Book of Records' recognition in the event, as the first Malaysian to receive a FIFA award.

A few hours after that, upon his arrival in Pulau Pinang from KLIA, in another homecoming event with the Pulau Pinang state government and the Pulau Pinang FA, the state's Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also announced that Faiz will receive an additional RM50,000 from the state.

"I on behalf of the state government congratulate Faiz for his achievement. The state government rewarded him RM10,000 when he first scored that goal. Now we reward him another RM50,000 and hope he scores more goals in future," said Guan Eng as quoted by his own Facebook page.

On top of the RM200,000, the 29-year old has earlier received RM15,000 from JDT owner and Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia patron Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, after Faiz' wonder goal was announced as one of the three finalists.